Demyelination occurs when the myelin sheath surrounding nerves becomes damaged due to disease. Symptoms of demyelination can vary depending on the disease. Demyelination causes can also depend on the patient’s background and the disease they are diagnosed with. Symptoms tend to be based on the nerves that are affected and damaged in the body, whether it is in the central nervous system or the peripheral nervous system. Demyelination is found in many different chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Guillian-Barre syndrome, and transverse myelitis. Symptoms, treatment, and remission outcomes will vary depending on the disease or condition the demyelination is caused by.
Common symptoms of demyelination can include blurriness or double vision, incontinence, difficultly with balance, fatigue, temperature sensitivity, tingling and numbness in the extremities or face, muscle weakness, and memory loss. The symptoms will depend on which nerves are affected with demyelination, and what disease the demyelination is attributed to. Anyone who experiences any of these symptoms should seek out a medical professional who can do further testing to see if demyelination is occurring in the body and what the underlying cause of the demyelination is.
Treatment for Symptoms of Demyelination
Currently, there is no way to repair all of the previous myelin sheath damage done to nerves. However, research is ongoing in this field and there are possibilities for surgeries that will supplement myelin with another protective substance or cells. This could be revolutionary in stopping and even reversing the myelin damage done in various types of diseases.
Medication is the typical option for people when demyelination is occurring. While it cannot repair the myelin sheath, it can help to slow the damage being done by the disease. It can also help with the symptoms of the disease due to the demyelination. By taking the proper medications, people with demyelination syndrome can help to prevent disability due to damaged nerves.
Another way to help stop myelin from being damaged is to take care of the body. It is important to get the proper nutrition to feed the body. A medical professional may recommend certain vitamins or nutrients to take in order to help protect the myelin sheath and to stop the progression of the disease. Exercise can also be beneficial, as it keeps a person’s muscles active and strong. It is a great way to keep the body fighting against the disease inside it.
